Jet-aerator spray shower-head



May 3, 1960 H. M. RICHTER JET-AERATOR SPRAY SHOWER-HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 21, 1959 fm enfiow May 3, 1960 H. M. RICHTER JET-AERATORSPRAY SHOWER-HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 allllllllllllllllll 2,935,265 JET-AERATOR SPRAY SHOWER-HEAD Herbert M. Richter,Paramus, NJ. Application January 21, 1959, Serial No. 788,152 12 Claims.(Cl. 239-107) This invention relates to improvements in water flowcontrol devices, such as shower heads, having particular reference to afiow control assembly adapted selectively to provide a diversified flowrange between a needle spray and an aerated spray, and the provision ofsuch a device is a principal object of the invention.

Generally, it is also an object of the invention to provide a showerhead that is economical of manufacture, simple, yet sturdy and durableof construction, and which will operate with relative freedom from wearand tear or other mechanical difficulties, especially when changingbetween the range of jet and aerated sprays.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such adevice having a flow control assembly comprising a retainer memberadapted to be coupled to a water pipe with flow guide means seatedtherein and a flow control casing rotatably mounted thereon to surroundthe flow guide means in spaced relation thereto to provide inner andouter flow passages; and a spray converter rotatably mounted withrespect to the fiow guide means and cooperatively associated with thecasing to rotate therewith and reciprocate the converter selectively toprovide a diversified flow range between a needle and aerated spray.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide such a devicewherein, by means of manual manipulation of the converter, flow can becaused to take place in the same direction through the inner and outerpassages to provide simultaneous inner and outer jet sprays, or,alternatively, a single aerated spray can be caused to take place fromthe inner passage by a reverse suction flow of air through the outerpassage by bringing the outer into communication with the inner passage.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide such a devicethat will provide a flood spray intermediate the jet and aeratingsprays, while at the same time providing a flushing or self-cleaningflow therethrough.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an assembled view, with parts broken away and partly insection, illustrating the relative position of the parts of the devicewhen the same is adjusted to provide a jet spray;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the rela- 2,935,265Patented May 3, 1960 tive position of the parts of the device when thesame is adjusted to provide an aerated spray; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown generally at10 a flow control assembly for a shower head adapted selectively toprovide a diversified fiow range between a needle spray and an aeratedspray adapted to be connected to the end of a screw-threaded water pipe11.

The assembly comprises a flow head retainer member 12 that preferably isinternally threaded to receive an externally threaded coupling ring 13in order that the entire assembly may be swivelly connected to a ballmemher 14 having an internally threaded portion 15 for attachment to thepipe 11, the ball member having a bore 16 therethrough for the passageof water from the water pipe 11 to which it is fixedly connected. Inorder to enhance the swivelling action of the assembly and to keep theretainer member 12 in spaced relation from the ball member, there isprovided a sealing ring seat or sleeve 17 located Within the retainermember. This ring preferably is made of a suitable plastic and abuts theball at one end and holds a central flow guide means, indicatedgenerally at 18, in seated position on a ledge 19 on the downstream endof the retainer member 12 and coaxially thereof and of the line of flowof water coming from the pipe 11, through the ball 14 and insubstantially spaced relation of the latter.

The flow guide means comprises a sleeve 20 having a peripheral lip 21provided with peripherally spaced openings 22 therearound, which lip isseated on the ledge 13 in a manner such that the openings 20 will permiteither the downstream passage of water therethrough, or the upstreamreverse fiow of air, as will more fully be described hereinafter. Thissleeve 20 projects a substantial distance from the retainer member 12.

Another portion of the fiow guide means comprises an inverted jet andair reversing member, indicated generally at 23. This unit consists of acup portion 24 having peripherally spaced openings 25 around its bottomedge diagonally directed inwardly for the passage of water underpressure in a plurality of fine streams. Extending from the edge of thecup is a circular portion 26 having a downwardly directed flange 27which rests on the peripheral lip 21 of the sleeve 20. The sealing ringor sleeve 17 bears against the ring portion 26 to hold the same inposition. Coaxially extending through the cup is a rivet 28 which isheaded over as at 29 on top of the cup 23. The rivet portion underneaththe cup has a bulge or diversion member 30 whereby the streams of waterpassing through the opening 25 are impinged to deflect the fiow. Thebottom shank portion of the rivet is up-set to carry a spray plate 31preferably made of plastic material and the edge of this plate isperipherally notched, as at 32, with the edges 33 slightly taperedoutwardly of the flow line axis to provide a first female peripheralspray control seat.

A flow control casing 34 is rotatably mounted on the downstream end ofthe retainer member 12 where it is held in position by a locking ring 35and in sealed engagement therewith by a rubber O-ring 36. The casing 34surrounds the flow guide means and terminates in a second femaleperipheral spray control seat 37 adjacent but in substantially spacedposition with respect to the first female seat of the spray plate 31.

The sleeve 26 of the flow guide means 18 thus provides an inner fiowpassage, indicated generally at 38, and an outer flow passage, indicatedgenerally at 39, between itself and the casing 34.

The sleeve 20 is also provided with at least one, and preferably two,cam members 40 on its outer surface intermediate its ends about whichsleeve is rotatably and reciprocably mounted a spray converter,indicated generally at 41, about to be described.

The spray "converter comprises a sleeve 42 having one or preferably twointernal spiral cam-ways 43 which receive the cam members 40. The sleeveportion 42 of the converter 41 fits fairly snugly around the sleeve 20and {the cam members are such that they can be outwardly pressedproperly to seat in the spiral grooves or earn-ways '43. The sleeve ofthe converter is provided with an annular ring 44, the bottom portion ofwhich provides an outer male peripheral spray control seat 45 adapted tobe engaged with the outer female seat 37 of thecasing 34; and an innerperipheral spray control seat '46 adapted to seat against the innerfemale seat 33 of 'the spray plate 31. Adjacent the outside of thesleeve '42ofth'e converter 41, and through the annular ring 44 are aplurality 'of spaced longitudinal passages 47 and it 'will be observedfrom Fig. 3 that they'are also tapered outwardly of the flow axis, as at43.

In:order to rotate the converter 41 on the sleeve 20, and to reciprocatethe same, that is, to bring the male seats 46 and '45 into and out ofengagement with the seats 33 and 37, there is provided a longitudinalslot 49 on the converter 41 to receive the stud end 50 of a handlemember 51 screw-threaded into the casing 34, whereby upon rotation ofthe casing to a right or left postion, the converter will be caused torotate with the casing as well as with respect to the sleeve 20 and atthe same time to be reciprocated into and out of position through a flowrange terminating at one end in a jet spray and at another end in anaerated spray, as is respectively illustrated by the positions of the'relative parts in Figs. 3 through 6, andfiow directions'shown bythearrows.

Briefly; the operation of the device isas follows:

Assume that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is tosay, that the casing 34 has been rotated, preferably through the handle51, to a positionsuch that the converter 41 is rotated around and cammeddownwardly of the sleeve 20 so that the male seats 45 and 46 of theconverter are respectively seated aaginst the outer female seat 37 ofthe casing 34 and the inner female seat 33 of the spray plate 31. Theonly outlets for the water will be through the outwardly tapered notches32of the spray plate 31 and the outwardly tapered-passages 47 of :theannular ring-44, both of which'are respectively in'communication withthe inner and outer flow chambers or passages 3% and 39. Thus, with theparts in such position, with the water turned on, the same will flowthrough the ball 14 into'the space provided between the retainer member12 and the unit 23. The resulting pressure built up therein willdiagonally direct inwardly peripheral streamsof water through theopenings 25 of the cup 24 to impinge against the diversion plug 3% andthence'on'downwardly in part through the inner chamber or passage 39 andthrough the notches 32 of the spray plate 31 to provide aninner jetsprayassuming the configurationof a truncated cone. Because of the-pressurebuilt up in the inner chamber 38, a substantially equal-amount of wateris caused to flow through the peripheral notches 2 2 of the lip 21 onthe sleeve 20, thereby entering the chamber '39 to'find access therefromonly through the downwardly tapered passages 47 of the converter 41andthus providing asecond jet spray that appears to be frusto-conical inconfiguration, so that there are pro vided inner and outerconcentric jetsprays coming from the assembly."

When the parts are moved to the relative positions illustrated in Fig.upon rotation of the casing 34 in the opposite direction, it will beobserved that the only How of water than can take place will be adownward'fiow fromthe inner chamber '38 and an upward fiow or suction ofair in the reverse direction in the outer'chamber 39 "be'cau'sethe"inner andouter' 'maleseats '45 and' 46of the converter 41 have beendisengaged from the inner be intermingled with the flow of watertherethrough to produce an'aerated spray coming fromthe assembly.

It might be pointed out that a judicious positioning of the converter'21 between the extremes of the .double jet and aeration spray, wherebyneither are produced, brings about a flood or flushing spray which atthe same time creates a self-leaning flow which will substantiallydislodge any foreign matter, thus providing a self-cleaning device.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and 'difierentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended'that all mattercontained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of 'the'invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: a

1. In a shower head having'coupling means to secure the same to a waterflow'pipe,'which comprises a water flow assembly adapted to be connectedto said coupling means and which will selectively provide adiversifiedflow range therefrom between a needle spray and an aerated spray, saidassembly comprising a retainer member for said -assembly adapted" to beconnected to said coupling in selected fixed position; a fluid flowcasing rotatably mounted on the end of said member; flow means mountedinthe'end of said member and-extending coaxially of said memberand'said'casing in spaced relation toand adjacent'the end of said casingina manner such as to provide an inner and outer fluid flow chamber; andspray converter means reciprocably mounted with'respect 'tosaid flowmeans and casing within the latter, whereby said fiow patternselectively can be blended between a needle spray emanating from bothchambers as the converter moves "downstream, and a single aerated sprayfrom the inner chamber asthe co verter moves upstream to convert theouter chamber to an air suction passage to supply air to said innerchamber.

2. In a showerJhead, a flow control assembly adapted selectively toprovide ardiversified flow range between a needle spray and an aeratedspray, compn'singa flow head'retainer memberadapted'to'be coupled at itsupstream end 1 to a water-pipe; flow means fixedly seated within thedownstream end ofsaid member and coaxially projecting therefrom; a flowcontrol casing rotatably mounted onthe downstream-end of said member andsurrounding said how means in spaced relation thereto to 'providerinnerzand v.outer fiow passages; and a spray converter rotatably:rnounted on;said jflow means :and cooperatively connected with saidjcasing to rotatetherewith' in order to-rnove saidconverter outwardly of; said casing toconstrict the outlet opening thereof to provide a needle spray emanatingfrom both chambers, and-rinwardly thereofatotenlarge thecoutletaopeningof said-casing to convert said outerchamber to anrair suction passagecommunicating with said inner'chamber to provide an aerated sprayemanating from said inner chamber.

3. In a shower head, a flow. control assembly adaptedselectivelyto'providea diversifiedflow range between a needle spray andan aerated spray, comprisingaflow head retainer "member havingcouplingmeans adapted to be coupled at its upstream end to a water pipe; acentral flow guide means fixedly seated within the downstream end ofsaid member and projecting therefrom with a coaxial portion thereofterminating in a first female peripheral spray control seat; a flowcontrol casing rotatably mounted on the downstream end of said memher tosurround said guide means and terminating in a second female peripheralspray control seat adjacent said first seat, said guide means and casingproviding inner and outer fiow passages; and a spray control convertermounted between said guide means and casing with cooperating connectingmeans therebetween, which converter rotates when said casing is rotatedand is simultaneously reciprocable coaxially of said casing and guidemeans, said converter terminating in inner and outer male peripheralspray control seats; whereby water flows through both chambers toprovide a needle spray when said male and female seats are engaged and,when disengaged, air is sucked in a reverse direction through said outerchamber to intermingle with water flowing in the opposite direction toprovide an aerated spray.

4. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized inthat said coupling means comprises a swivel connection including a ballmember having a bore therethrough for the passage of water fixedly to beconnected to said pipe, and a sealing ring seat for said ball to holdsaid fiow guide means within said flow head retainer member inswivelable spaced relation from said ball.

5. In a shower head as defined in claim 3 and further characterized inthat said flow guide means includes a sleeve having a circular lipprovided with peripherally spaced openings therearound seated withinsaid retainer member, whereby to provide a divided flow of water throughsaid inner and outer passages to supply said jet spray, and to supply anaerated spray only through said inner passage by means of air passing ina reverse direction thereto through said openings as said casing isrotated to reciprocate said spray control converter into and out ofcontact with said seats.

6. In a shower head as set forth in claim 5, and wherein said sleeve isprovided with at least one cam member on its outer surface intermediateits ends and said spray control converter member is provided with acam-way for said cam and rotatably mounted on said sleeve to bereciprocated with respect thereto as said casing is rotated.

7. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized inthat said first female seat includes a spray plate having peripherallyspaced longitudinal notches therearound to provide a first jet spraywhen the inner male seat of said spray converter is engaged therewith.

8. In a shower head as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said notcheshave tapered portions directed outwardly of the longitudinal axis offlow, whereby said jet spray is projected into the configuration of atruncated cone.

9. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized inthat said outer male seat includes an outer annular ring intermediatethe ends of said converter, which ring is provided with a plurality ofspaced apart longitudinal passages therearound to provide a second jetspray when the outer male seat of said spray converter is engaged withsaid second female on said casing.

10. In a shower head as set forth in claim 9, and wherein said passageshave tapered portions directed outwardly of the longitudinal axis offlow, whereby said jet spray is projected into the configuration of atruncated cone.

11. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized inthat said first female seat includes a spray plate having peripherallyspaced longitudinal notches therearound having tapered portions directedoutwardly of the longitudinal axis of flow, and said outer male seatincludes an outer annular ring intermediate the ends of said converter,which ring is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart, longitudinalpassages therearound having tapered portions likewise directed outwardlyof said axis of flow, whereby to provide inner and outer concentricconical jet sprays.

12. In a shower head as defined in claim 3, and further characterized inthat said connecting means includes a longitudinal slot in saidconverter and a manual control member extending outwardly of said casingand inwardly thereof into said slot, which member and slot arerelatively reciprocable as said casing is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,863,548 Block June 14, 1932 1,996,545 Knowlton Apr. 2, 1935 2,285,831Pennypacker June 9, 1942 2,795,462 Bletcher et a1. June 11, 19572,816,746 Botnick Dec. 17, 1957

